Watching from the shelter of the carriage, Giovanna turned away to confer with her grooms.
Back in the tunnel, other men helped a weeping, cursing father pull his sore and breathless son out of the shelter. No one understood the nonsense the youth kept muttering over and over. Someone whispered that the ordeal had driven him mad.
"Giach giach giach," croaked Pietro, laughing through his tears and not caring who saw.
The mood on the hill turned festive. The rain lessened to merely a drizzle, and it was soon possible to build a real fire. There was enough wine about. A few ingenious men got a spit started in the mouth of the tunnel, where they roasted some hares. A game of tag had begun between some of the half-naked men and one of the rescued boys. Cangrande played right along, pretending that he couldn't outpace the child. Then Cesco spied one of Cangrande's hounds and began to weep.
Pietro and Dante were seated by one of the fires. While Katerina talked with the mourning Cesco, Cangrande joined them and listened to Pietro's story.
"The look on Pathino's face gave me a warning," croaked Pietro, sipping water. "I dropped my sword and threw my arms around Cesco. I kept a hand over his mouth so he wouldn't swallow the muck. There was an awful sound. I was sure we were going to die. But then the noise ended. In the darkness I felt around. The wooden slats in the trap fell at an angle, making a shelter. As long as we didn't move, we could survive."
"So long as the air lasted," said Cangrande.
"Yes," said Pietro with a shiver. "I did think of that."
"How did Cesco behave?"
Pietro shook his head. "He was a hero. In the dark, in the wet, everything waiting to fall on us, he let me teach him that song."
"You're a fool," said Dante. "You should have built a fire outside the cave — something to send up a signal."
Suddenly remembering, Pietro opened his mouth, croaked, swallowed, and tried again. "Ferdinando. I met Ferdinando — sent him back for help."
Cangrande frowned. "Petruchio's cousin? Then where is he?" Pietro shrugged and explained entrusting Detto to Ferdinando's care.
Cangrande shook his head. "Mariotto found Detto with your horse. Which means we have another person to look for. I'll see to it." He called Nico over and gave him the order. Then he turned back to Pietro, his face showing real sadness. "I'm sorry about Mercurio."
Pietro bowed his head. "Thank you. He was a good fellow. But he will live on in his children. And in Cesco's memory." He swallowed again and said, "I'm sorry I let him get away."
Dante sputtered. "A choice! Let him escape or let the child die! I think God applauds the valiant more than the vengeful."
"Live a life that is worthy of respect and honour. Protect the innocent," recited the Scaliger.
"You remembered." Pietro's tired grin stretched from ear to ear. "How am I doing?"
"Damn well, I'd say."
From the confines of her carriage Giovanna emerged and approached her husband. "My lord, your young friend here is both wounded and tired. You should send him back to Verona."
"I'm fine." Pietro's protest was feeble in comparison to the exhaustion printed on his face.
Cangrande nodded. "You're right, my love. Pietro, you've done enough for one day. More than enough. You need Morsicato's attention. I'll send you to Vicenza — " He began looking around for horses.
"Might I suggest another conveyance?" Giovanna gestured to her carriage. "It seats four comfortably. If you're determined to send it to Vicenza, it could carry the child and your sister, with the knight's father as well. I shall ride with you, if you'll allow it."
After a long moment of consideration, Cangrande leaned forward and kissed his wife. "My angel." With an air of decision, he declared, "Amen. Let it be."
Pietro told Poco to take Canis and help find Ferdinando. Around them the revels were becoming extreme. Women had arrived from a nearby village and the men were attempting to impress them with tales of the day and with contests of stamina and strength. They would not be missed.
In the carriage Pietro sat beside his father, who clucked over him like an old hen. Seated across from him were Cesco and Katerina. Cangrande saw them all settled into the cushioned seats, then firmly closed the door and nodded to the groom. The man gave a loose salute with his hand, then snapped his whip. The horses trotted off towards the road.
Morsicato arrived at the mound just as the carriage was pulling out. He dismounted next to Cangrande, who was mildly surprised to see him. "I just sent off some patients to find you. Things under control in the city?"
"As much as they could be," said the doctor, staring after the carriage. "I thought I might be needed here."
"I'm delighted to say you're not. Ser Alaghieri has a few scratches that bear looking at, but otherwise no doctoring for you. He's heading back in that carriage. You might as well enjoy a flagon of wine. It seems our victory celebration has spontaneously erupted."
Accepting the flagon, Morsicato drank deeply. "That carriage — I thought I recognized the grooms."
"They belong to my wife." The Scaliger pointed to where Giovanna was standing with Nico da Lozzo, laughing more brightly than she had in a long time. "She volunteered her carriage to transport both child and hero back to the city."
Bail approached with little Detto. Nogarola's huge bear paws cradled his son against his chest while Detto sucked his thumb in blissful sleep. Smiling brightly, Cangrande clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder. "I thought you'd left."
"I keep getting waylaid. Was that my wife you sent off in the carriage?"
"It was."
"Why weren't there any guards riding along?"
Cangrande blinked. "I ordered twenty men on horseback to accompany them. I thought that was enough."
"Well, they didn't go. I just talked to the commander. They were told they weren't needed."
Cangrande's voice grew icy. "By whom?"
"They thought the order came from you."
"Really?"
Bailardino seemed angry. "I'd think you'd be a little more concerned. Kat told me about the Count's secret partner. He's still out there, you know."
"Bail, don't worry. I'll send twenty men off right now. They should catch the carriage in no time."
"All right, peacock. I'm going to stay here and let Detto nap for awhile before heading home." Bailardino lumbered away, his sleeping son in his arms.
Cangrande turned to Morsicato. "Join me, Doctor? Or perhaps you'd like to ride back with them?"
"There are other doctors in the city. If you say Pietro's wounds aren't serious, I think I'll join you for another drink."
The Scaliger nodded. "Speaking of wounds, how is Theodoro?"
"The Moor? He's up and moving. In fact, I wanted to speak to you about him. He's been divining. Hardly was he awake when he had the pendulum out and swinging. Then he kept trying to get up, saying he had to leave. I had him tied to his bed."
"What did he divine?"
"A danger to Pietro and Cesco."
Cangrande laughed. "A little late! But when we return, we can put his fears to rest."
The doctor persisted. "What's this about a secret partner?"
"Some spy in my palace was working with him. He's the one who-"
Stopping in his tracks, the doctor grabbed Cangrande's arm. "That's it! That's where I've seen those grooms!"
"What grooms?"
"Your wife's! They were the ones in Vicenza last year, in the palace! The men with the accents!"
"What are you talking about?"
"They're the ones who tried to kill Cesco!"
Morsicato watched Cangrande assimilate that information. "You're certain they're the men you saw?"
"Dead certain."
Morsicato expected the Scaliger to leap onto a horse and cry for all and sundry to follow him as he raced to the rescue of his son once again. Yet this one time the Capitano stood frozen. The doctor's voice was urgent. "Cangrande! Those men have Cesco! He's in danger! We must go!"